25 Stunning Summer Cities from Around the World
Mar 7, 2016 by Ian (Awesome Escape Blogger)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

After a long winter, the East Coast knows how to truly take advantage of the summer months. Everyone emerges from hibernation ready to enjoy the heat to the fullest. The streets are just humming with excitement. Philadelphia comes alive with street festivals, food festivals, and free concerts. While the occasional heat wave or bout of humidity might dampen the fun, the average temperature is in the 70s Fahrenheit - hot enough to enjoy the outdoors, but not as bad as the tire-melting heat in New York.

One of the oldest cities in the United States, Philadelphia was the first capital of the new nation while Washington DC was still under construction. The inventive city was the home tot he first library, the first hospital, and the first zoo in America! While the city suffered a downturn after the collapse of the manufacturing and steel industries, the city has polished off the rust and has been completely revitalized. Philadelphia has 67 National Historic Landmarks and one of the most beautiful park systems in the country.

Start your trip at the Liberty Bell in front of Independence Hall where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. Next, you have to visit the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The Parkway is the shady heart of the city’s innumerable museums and historical buildings, lined with fountains and bronze statues. There are guided tours of the major attractions throughout the city, but it’s also great to take your time and pick and choose your favorite sites. We recommend the Rodin Museum and the adjacent Philadelphia Museum of Art, one of the largest in the United States (and if you’re a movie buff, you’ll recognize the steps in front of the museum from “Rocky!”) The city is also home to the Franklin Institute Science Museum, honoring Philadelphia’s most famous son, the inventor and genius Benjamin Franklin. But don’t forget to get out of the museums and see the Philadelphia Phillies, the oldest one-name, one-city team in Major League Baseball. That’s a perfect opportunity to grab a Philly Cheese Steak - because you can’t leave Philadelphia without one.